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REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2022 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 127 Nevertheless, there are many opportunities. Worldwide, there is an increasing demand for durable goods, including electronic devices, and there is an increasing proportion of elec- tronics in almost everything. Digital transfor- mation can be seen in most sectors of the econ- omy, especially telehealth technology and real- time telemedicine, which has been accelerated by the pandemic. ere have been enormous advances in electronics in the automotive sec- tor and its related infrastructure. Solid growth is predicted and now is the time to put in place the tools and the people needed for the indus- try to thrive in years to come, a collective drive toward the Factory of the Future. Mitchell was confident that electronics man- ufacturers are ready to meet future demands with grit, ingenuity, and determination. But succeeding in the electronics industry is never easy. Companies cannot rest on their laurels; competition is too tough, and the pace of inno- vation is too fast. He was enormously impressed with the pow- erfully creative ways in which young people are using technology. at spirit is necessary now more than ever because the industry is chang- ing faster than ever. Industry similarly needs to embrace change with purpose and passion, or risk being le behind. He included an analogy of riding a bicycle at increasing speed along a road that has become progressively more peril- ous. A modest incline aer a sharp climb could be perceived as a "false flat," and what might have been seen as an opportunity to relax a lit- tle actually presented a further challenge that could sap physical and emotional energy. Companies could find themselves in a "false flat" situation, in the mistaken belief that "the future is tomorrow" instead of realising that "the future is now." e traditional practice of sitting back and waiting for larger organisa- tions to chart the future and invest in the paths to new technology is no longer appropriate; it could easily result in being le behind with out- dated skills and superseded technology. "Com- panies that expect to lead tomorrow must not only deliver the goods promised tomorrow, but also be planning and preparing to meet the